In “Night Shadows” by Theodore Jerome Cohen, Deputy Coroner Michael Antonetti is certain that a body recently found was murder rather than a suicide. After piecing together evidence from a similar case, Detective Louis Martelli, NYPD, Detective Sean O’Keeffe, and IT Specialist Missy Dugan come together to leave no stone unturned in their determination to uncover the identity of a serial killer after the deaths of two out of the three high school football heroes known as The Flying Horsemen.

Recent newspaper headlines reveal incidents of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and violent abuse, all long overlooked by the Church, educational institutions, and the military. These reports add to the banner headlines and exposures of the exploits of celebrities in the sports and entertainment industries. This mystery proves to be a thriller as the characters weave through the aspects of the crimes to try and prevent another death before it is too late.

Bestselling author Theodore Cohen uses the medium of fiction to raise awareness of the problems of teen rape and sexual abuse in the United States and of the devastating long-term impact of the emotional trauma, shame, intimidation, and social ostracism experienced by victims of rape and their families.

Clandestine meetings, a mysterious veiled woman, staged suicides, and an unknown motive keep the reader matching wits with Martelli and his team, as the clues mount right up to the final dramatic conclusion. Stimulating dialog, a complex plot, and strong character development that reveal dedication, compassion, and loyalty by all members of the NYPD team combine to draw the reader into this story. I have read several of Cohen’s novels. His writing just keeps getting better.

Cohen skillfully combines a unique creative imagination with a keen sense of investigative reporting, knowledge of police procedures, and an intuitive understanding of human nature in his book “Night Shadows.” This is another Cohen winner!